North Eastern Counties 400 metres champion Rabah Yusef stepped down in distance at the North Eastern Counties Athletics League fixture at Gateshead International Stadium.

However, it made no difference for the Sudan teenager, as he again showed his versatility to win the 200m comfortably in a time of 22.0sec.

The Teesside-based student, now competing for Border Harriers, heads for the Northern Junior Track and Field Championships at Wigan this weekend where he will be one of the favourites for whichever event he chooses to line up in.

But Yusuf concedes the high jump is his first preference.

The 1500m was won by Sunderland's Gavin Masingham in 3:56.1 after fighting off the dogged challenge of former international Terry West.

The North Shields Poly runner clocked 3:58.0 for second place, with Gosforth's Paul Hutton finishing third in 4:01.0.

Paul Reed (Morpeth), recent winner of the North Eastern Counties shot putt competition with 15.17m, improved on that by 18 centimetres despite it being a solo performance.

In the senior men's triple jump, victory went to Gateshead's John Stacey (13.24m) while Emma Morris triumphed in three events, winning the 200m in 26.2s; high jump with 1.65m and long jump with 5.14m.

Morpeth's Carly Wilson won an exciting 1500m, with Jarrow and Hebburn's Angela Hunter finishing just metres behind in second place.